As a writer of nine years worth of Kentucky casino issue stories, it seemed like fun to compare some lines in the Journal story to what we've seen here in Kentucky. All quotes in the Japan section are from the Journal story. The Kentucky quotes are from The Courier-Journal.

JAPAN: "Legalized gambling is one pillar of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pro-growth agenda, and he has promised to back a casino bill in the coming parliament session this fall."

JAPAN: "Mr. Abe's support didn't help this spring, when a casino bill failed to come up for a vote due to bureaucratic delays."

KENTUCKY: "The split (in Democratic leadership) hampered House efforts to pass the casino gambling bill, which never came to a vote after the two factions were unable to agree on a strategy and round up the votes to advance it." – April 5, 2008

JAPAN: "But legislators say the chances are better this time."

KENTUCKY: "Supporters of expanded gambling have said this year's legislative session — fresh off Gov. Steve Beshear's landslide re-election win over Senate President David Williams — may offer their best chance yet for success." – Feb. 9, 2012

JAPAN: "U.S. heavyweights—like Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts Ltd. and MGM Resorts International MGM—have already been talking up the billions of dollars they are prepared to spend on a casino-resort in Japan if given the opportunity."

KENTUCKY: "The president of a major U.S. casino company told legislators yesterday that his firm would be most interested in operating Kentucky facilities in Louisville and suburban Cincinnati." – Jan. 15, 2008